Lord deliver us more and more from these vanities. I have spent most of the fall and winter hitherto in a very weak state of body, and sometimes under pressing inward trials and spiritual conflicts, but, having obtained help from God, I continue to this day,' and am now somewhat better in health than I was some time ago. I find nothing more conducive to a life of Christianity than a diligent, industrious, and faithful improvement of precious time. Let us then faithfully perform that business which is allotted to us by Divine Providence to the utmost of our bodily strength and mental vigor. Why should we sink and grow discouraged with any particular trials and perplexities which we are called to encounter in the world? Death and eternity are just before us: a few tossing billows more will waft us into the world of spirits, and, we hope, through infinite grace, into endless pleasures and uninterrupted rest and peace. Let us then 'run with patience the race that is set before us.' brews xii. 1, 2. And oh! that we could depend more upon the living God, and less upon our own wisdom and strength! Dear brother, may the God of all grace comfort your heart and succeed your studies, and make you an instrument of good to his people in your day. is the constant prayer of

"Your affectionate brother,

He

This

"DAVID BRAINERD."

When David wrote the following letter, John had nearly finished his college-course.

"CROSSWEEKSUNG (CROSSWICKS), N. J., Dec. 28, 1745.

"I am in one continual, perpetual, and uninterrupted hurry, and Divine Providence throws so much upon me

that I do not know how it will ever be otherwise. May I obtain mercy of God to be faithful unto death. I cannot say that I am weary of my hurry; I only want strength and grace to do more for God than I have ever yet done.

"My dear brother, the Lord of heaven, who has carried me through so many trials, bless you for time and eternity, and fit you to do service for him in the church below and to enjoy his blissful presence in his church triumphant.

'My dear brother, the time is short. Oh, let us fill it up for God. Let us count the sufferings of this present time as nothing, if we can but run our race and finish our course with joy. Oh, let us strive to live for God. I bless the Lord I have nothing to do with earth, but only to labor honestly in it for God, till I shall accomplish as a hireling my day.' I think I do not desire to live a minute for any thing which earth can afford. Oh that I could live for none but God till my dying

moment!

"I am your affectionate brother,

"DAVID BRAINERD."

In the absence of other and more direct testimony, may we not safely infer that a college student capable of appreciating such letters, and deemed worthy of them by one who knew him so well, must have been a young man of rare excellence? We naturally consult the character and taste of our friends in our epistles to them, so that our sentiments and style not only mirror ourselves, but our friends. As to John Brainerd's scholarship we have no testimony. He

graduated in course in 1746; creditably, doubtless, but not distinguished. He numbered President Stiles, Elihu Spencer, D.D., and other eminent men, among his classmates.

CHAPTER IV.

JOHN BRAINERD'S ENTRANCE UPON THE MINISTRY.

WITH whom John Brainerd studied theology

after his graduation is not certainly known. "He probably studied for a brief space with the Rev. Mr. Mills, of Ripton, or Rev. Mr. Bellamy, of Bethlehem."* It will be remembered that he was connected by marriage with the Rev. Mr. Fisk, pastor of the church in his native town. Precisely what time he occupied with any or all of these is not known.

It may be said of men trained under the influence of the better class of families in New England a century ago, that their whole youth was spent in a school of theology; and that, like Timothy, from "their youth they had known the Scriptures." This was especially the case with the Brainerds. Hence, when their literary course was finished, they went forth to preach the gospel. The first we hear of John Brainerd after his graduation is, that the Correspondents had de

* Brainerd Genealogy, Dr. Field, p. 288.

†These gentlemen were the correspondents, in New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania, of "The Honorable Society in Scotland for Propagating Christian Knowledge."-Edwards, p. 78.

signated him to supply the place of his brother David, whose health had so failed that he was compelled to discontinue his labors.

There can be no doubt that this application for his services among the Indians had its origin in the recommendation of David Brainerd. This fact, so far from abating, is apt to increase our respect for the younger brother; for when we bear in mind the deep piety, the high moral standard, and the intense love to the poor Indians of David Brainerd, connected with his discrimination of character and perfect knowledge of John's qualifications, it was in the highest degree honorable to be selected as David's successor. It is not often that a prophet has honor in his own country.

The intimacy of brotherhood often abates mutual respect. The many minor shades of character which are likely to be obvious in the intercourse of brothers, often prompts them to look abroad for those to whom they are about to confide their weighty responsibilities. If no man is great to his valet-de-chambre, it is because all human greatness has its narrow bounds, which the dullest intellect can ascertain by constant intercourse. We ordinarily allow the imagination to throw a veil over the weaknesses, and a halo over the virtues, of those for whom we cherish reverence or admiration. Men are often great, not by what they reveal but by what they conceal. The world reveres not so much the reality of heroes,